I used to travel for work. A lot! But now that my wife and I have retired, we have made the conscious decision to travel even more... Together! And, this time, we will just be going where WE WANT TO GO :-)
I hope you will travel along with us as we explore the world. I'll try to make these videos as entertaining as possible for everyone!
I am also slowly returning to my archives and posting a few "Short Shots Videos" of my past trips. Check them out!
Thanks for watching, and please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, RING THE NOTIFICATION BELL... and spread the word! Comments and critiques are welcome. Please let us know how we are doing and what we can do, in your opinion, to improve.
Hello, I have really been enjoying all of your videos. Specifically, the ones on Silversea cruises. My husband and I will be on the endeavor next February in Antarctica. We have booked room 517, right across the hall from your 516. I know you’re gonna be coming out with a suite tour in a few weeks, but I’m wondering if you can answer a question for me ahead of that. Did your balcony have an uninstructed view? As in was it a full glass railing, or was there some metal that was metal? We are thinking about rebooking our room, but need to do so sooner rather than later as the ship is filling up. I’d be very grateful if you could share that information ahead of the release of video number five. Thank you again for producing such great quality videos and providing insight and motivation for future travels.
@@jiffiehart3355 Hi! Thank you so much for watching and the kind words! I would say yes, there is a somewhat obstructed view, if sitting down. The balconies are constructed with a high wood railing mounted over a rectangular metal bar with thalassemia portion under the wood and metal railing. On one side there is also a metal cross brace. There are shots from the balcony in Part Two just recently published. There are decent shots at 09:57 and 35:12 in the video taken from our veranda. As far as I know there are no large obstructions, such as the Zodiacs or the lifeboats in any of the suites. The only obstructions being the superstructure of the balcony itself. I hope that answers your question! If not please let me know and I can dig deeper and post some additional pics of the balcony area. Enjoy your trip and let us know how it goes! T
This is an excellent vidoe. Thank you. On the 19th July 2024 i sail on Silver Seas Moon, there has been quite a lot criticism regarding Silver Seas,this review somewhat alleviates my worry. I am a solo traveller.
Hello Raymond! Thank you for watching and the kind words! I have been very happy and satisfied with my overall experience on Silversea. My least favorite was aboard the Silver Nova. I am attributing that experience to (possibly) the fact the Nova was a brand new cruise ship and the were (possibly) some teething pains involved because of new ship, new crew, new setup, etc. We will give the Nova a chance to settle in before traveling on her again. I think if you go into your voyage aboard the Silver Moon with an open heat and mind you will have a wonderful trip! I would love to have your thoughts on the Silversea experience as a solo traveler. Please let us know how it goes and what you think! Safe and Happy Travels! Tom
Transcription: Welcome to another of our “Short Shots” travel videos! Please join us as we “get our kicks on Route 66,” when touching down briefly on the “Mother Road” of the United States connecting at the longest surviving stretch of the iconic roadway in Seligman, Arizona. U.S. 66 was at first a patchwork of existing paved and unpaved roads strung together along its envisioned path. The early brainchild of Cyrus Avery, entrepreneur, oilman, Oklahoma highway commissioner, and other prominent businesspeople and community leaders of the time, Route 66 was officially realized on November 11th, 1926. The roadway started in Chicago, ultimately stretching 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California. U.S. 66, or Route 66, became known worldwide as the iconic "Mother Road" of the United States. From its starting point in Chicago, Route 66 headed 301 miles south through Illinois, 317 miles through Missouri, and only touching on Kansas with a tiny 13-mile stretch through the southeast part of that state. From Kansas, it turned in a more westward direction with a 432-mile stretch through Oklahoma and another 186 miles across the Texas Panhandle. The final westward stretch of Route 66 travels 487 miles through the deserts of New Mexico and 401 miles through the varied landscapes of Arizona before crossing 314 more miles to early Route 66's termination point in Los Angeles, California. Alignments, and even the endpoint of the road, changed often over the years as improved sections of the highway were constructed. Eventually, the termination point was extended from L.A. to Santa Monica, California, one mile from the Pacific Ocean. The City of Santa Monica eventually extended the "Historic Route 66" endpoint to the Pacific, terminating at the Santa Monica Pier for tourist-y reasons. In the early years, many sections connected only one small town to the next, and the highway had no official federal route number. Much of the road was unpaved and was only a dirt or gravel "road" from one point to the next. Over time, the route was formalized as a federal highway and numbered "U.S. 66". Today, large swaths of Route 66 have been shut down, are no longer used, or have been paved over and replaced by the Interstate Highway System, bypassing most of the smaller towns and cities that U.S. 66 once connected. Route 66 began to "fall apart" shortly after the Interstate Highway System was created in 1956 after five separate Interstate Highways bypassed piece after piece of the iconic highway. Since its official decommissioning in 1985, some individuals, communities, and even states have made a constant effort to preserve and reopen closed sections of Route 66, mostly done through official state designations of stretches of what used to be the highway as "Historic Route 66." Today, it is estimated that approximately 85% of the original Route 66 still exists and can be driven…. If you know where it is and how to find it. U.S. 66 now exists under various other official names and numbers, Federal, State, and Local. It is only sometimes marked with that "Historic Route 66" signage. Route 66 has an almost mythical draw and has been featured, or mentioned in many books, films, music, and even spawned a TV series On the way back to Las Vegas from the Grand Canyon's South Rim, we took a rest stop in the tiny town of Seligman, Arizona. Seligman was supposedly one of the inspirations for the fictional town of "Radiator Springs" featured in the Car's films. My research can neither confirm nor deny that statement. Still, Seligman was indeed bypassed in 1978 by Interstate 40 just as "Radiator Springs" was bypassed in the Cars films. And, if you look carefully, some of the vehicles from the films appear to have retired there. But Seligman fought back, and in 1987, just two years after Route 66 was officially decommissioned, it became the birthplace of "Historic Route 66" and the starting place of the longest surviving stretch of the iconic roadway today-160 miles from Seligman to Topock, Arizona. Today, Seligman, population 446, is firmly rooted in the past and is filled to overflowing with highway history, tchotchkes, and kitsch from a different era. The town's buildings also house a period car and motorcycle collection and so many items of memorabilia that it is impossible to take it all in on a short 30-minute rest stop! More, if interested, at: www.seligmanazchamber.com/visit-seligman Soon enough, it was time to leave "Radiator Springs," oops, I mean Seligman, the birthplace of "Historic Route 66," and continue on toward our last night in Vegas. I have left a few links in the comments. Check it out if interested! There are many great websites that explore Route 66's history, offer insight into what remnants are still around today, and catalog the many things to do along what's left of the iconic highway. Try these for a little more detail into Route 66's past and present. www.route66roadtrip.com/route-66-maps.htm - Good info on roadside stops and points of interest. www.theroute-66.com/maps.html - Great source for maps, modern and vintage www.routemagazine.us/stories/11-must-watch-movies#google_vignette - Partial filmography of movies shot on Route 66. www.theroute-66.com/home.html - General Route 66 information. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_66_(TV_series) - Route 66 TV series There is an incredible amount of information and research available for very little effort by simply Googling “Route 66!” Have fun with it! Road trip, anyone? I call "Shotgun!"
@tscruiseandtravelmuse that's easy to do lol! The best breakfast I've had was at Road Kill Cafe in Seligman. I've done route 66 twice and I can't wait to do it again. You see new things and meet new people. Keep the videos coming!
@@robertwhite2032 👍 I’ve not had the privilege to drive Route 66 in its entirety. My hometown was on Route 66 (Bloomington, Illinois) and it was the best way to get to Pontiac, Illinois. Pontiac housed a tiny teen club that featured national rated acts in the 60s. So I was very familiar with at least a small part of Route 66 in my squandered youth. Cheers!
Thanks for watching! The itinerary is a strong one! Are you doing an extension on either, or both, ends? The Swiss Alps extension was a wonderful addition to the itinerary. Let us know how it goes and what you think. Safe and happy travels! Tom
Thank you Gary! I appreciate the very kind words, and the feedback. I try to be as honest as I can without going too far in either direction or being overly nitpicky. Best regards, Tom
I couldn't agree more about the ugly graffiti all over the cities of Europe. I hate it but I find the locals and many of the European tour guides claim that it is "art". Not sure how names and nonsense phrases qualify as art, but I guess if it doesn't upset the people that live there, my opinion isn't about to rectify things. Maybe they should ban spray paint sales?
Hello Doug, Thank you for the comment. I agree that most of it is garbage, while some of it borders on artistic, and very little is (what I consider) art! My biggest gripe is there is no rhyme or reason to where it seems to proliferate. I think it must ease of access and lack of security in the worst afflicted areas, and a lack of social conscience by the “artists.” But having said that… it is certainly a world wide phenomenon and we are going to see it wherever we go! My philosophy at this point is “enjoy it when I can, ignore it when I can’t!” Happy and Safe Travels! Tom
Hello Beth, I'm so happy that you enjoyed the videos! Thank you for watching! Still working on Part 5, and it should be posted early next week. This was our third Regent cruise. We previously traveled to Alaska aboard the Mariner and the Panama Canal aboard the Explorer. We have another Regent cruise booked for late next year. It is currently scheduled for the Middle East and Israel. Of course, depending on what is happening in the area at the time, we may see a change of plans/itinerary. Where does your next Regent cruise take you? Are you a regular Regent cruiser? Which itinerary was your favorite? Sorry, inquiring minds want to know😁! Stay tuned for Part Five of Earth, Fire, and Ice! Our next adventure will be a Silversea Expedition cruise from Tromso, Norway, to Reykjavik, Iceland, in June, followed by another cruise along the Pacific Rim starting in September. In the meantime, I'm working on some short videos featuring quick trips to some US locations and reaching back into the archives for trips I can make more "RU-vid-friendly." Thank you again for watching and for your comments! Safe and Happy Travels, Tom (T's Cruise and Travel Muse)
Hi Tom! We’ve only done one regent last year on Mariner Athens to Rome. We have another trip booked June 2025 out of Barcelona but we may change it. This past week we did a week in London (I watched your London video too!) and I’m thinking I may want to do more of an island trip next year - maybe San Juan or the Aruba, Bonaire, curaçao itinerary. These Europe trips are exhausting and I’m thinking about a little more of a fun trip with snorkeling, dolphins, etc. I’m excited to get back onto a regent ship I really loved it!
The last section is always the toughest. I try to be as honest/objective as I can be in my observations and opinions. Thanks for watching to the bitter end😜! If so inclined, check out a few our other videos and let us know what you think. Thanks for the encouragement! T
Thank you! It is a labor of love (and, you are correct, patience:-)! The editing generally takes a solid two months to complete. I am currently working on the final chapter of our last trip. Check it out if you have time! T
Excellent review. Agree with you, the La Dame up charge is a huge negative. Also dress code with minimum of a jacket in all public areas after 6 PM every night is popular only with a few passengers. The modern resort elegant dress code of Regent, Ritz-Carlton and Explora avoids packing an extra suitcase for dress clothing but preserves a chic evening look. We have taken a number of Silversea cruises in the past but no more. Their ship might be new but their policies are firmly in the past. Thanks again for a superb review.
Thank you! There was a somewhat more relaxed dress code on the Silver Nova with Formal Night now being called “Formal Optional.” The requirement for a jacket remains. So, they may be edging toward the dress codes of the other luxury cruise brands, but as you rightly said they are not there yet! We were just on a Regent cruise and they had two “Formal Optional” nights during the cruise, all other nights were “country club chic.” The up-charge for La Dame aboard the other Silversea ships remains a much more reasonable (if not still contentious) $60 bucks per head. Thank you again for the kind words, and thank you for subscribing! Happy Travels, Tom
Again must say you need to check your English. To refer to someone as she or her is rude. It implies that you are strangers. For someone you know either call them by name or "my wife or my partner or my better half". My Mum said to me who is "she"? the cats mother. Please consult English etiquette and grammar. I hope they are the same in the US... you do speak English don't you?
Hello Jenifer! Thank you for your comment. Yes, I kind of speak English, but I am an American so my English is always suspect! If you might notice I do occasionally say “my wife” when referring to her…. Please note when queried she did specifically state to not use her name in the videos! BTW… it is Xinying or Song😝 Thank you so much for your comments, I’ll try to do better in the future! All the best! T
I spent 17 days on this actual cruise I’m not a RU-vidr or a Travel agent just a normal full fare paying passenger , I don’t get a free cruise for talking Silversea up and although she is not a bad ship , unfortunately the food and service is not what I’ve known on Silversea in the past .The variety on the menus and food was far below what I’ve previously experienced.The ship is also soulless and lacking in character . I’ve done Around 100 cruises in the luxury market since the 1950’s and was extremely disappointed .
Hello Howard! Thank you for watching and your comments. I’m sorry the Nova fell short of your expectations and I felt the same as you that were some rough spots in service, and the quality of the dining, was not up to the normal Silversea standards I have experienced in the past, I agree that they have some work to do on certain venues. Those venues, in my opinion, are La Dame, and the Grille (both daytime dining and the evening menu). The new pricing for La Dame raise expectations only to disappoint when indulging in the actual experience. The Hot Rocks (the Grille) experience is now limited and poorly executed. On the other hand, the Silvernote menu was better than I have experienced in the past. Although I think Silversea has made a few questionable changes and decisions with Silversea Nova, I am willing to give then the benefit of the doubt and some time to fix the issues I observed on this new ship. We will give the Silver Nova another year or two to stabilize before booking again. We are scheduled to cruise the Silver Endeavor in June and the Silver Moon in October/November and I will be reporting of the experience as that progresses! I will say that crew level service was just as good as I remembered. Happy and Safe Travels! T
Just wanted to add, I am neither a travel agent nor a paid shill for Silversea. I am a fare-paying passenger just as you are and received no benefits, compensation, or payment of any kind from anyone. I do these travel videos in the effort to be, hopefully, be informative and helpful. If haven’t already, please watch Part Five of Lisbon to Lisbon where I talk a bit more about the Silver Nova and our experiences aboard. I am retired and enjoy the travel, and the creative process of the videography and editing. Together, they satisfy the wanderlust and the technical geekiness sides of my personality :-) Happy and Safe Travels, T
Hi ,I also did a video on this cruise , which is on RU-vid on this same cruise but not as long or detailed regarding the food as yours .I’ve done about 8 cruises with SS and this ship food wise was way below our past experiences . We had a meal in our suite one night which was inedible , must have been made in a different galley . Every cruise I’ve done on Silversea previously , has been absolutely top notch , prior to the takeover by RCCI .What we had on this cruise was really a joke .We are not big eaters but they couldn’t even do a decent steak .Your videos was well done and professional.I also love photography and videography and surprised we didn’t see you around filming . I’m also retired and still enjoy traveling but it’s certainly not like it used to be . I was very reticent of returning to SS when they did away with a normal dinning room .Hope you weren’t offended by my comment but it wasn’t aimed at you . We all have our own standards .
@@howardhdavidson Howard, No worries! No offense was taken! I wanted to make sure my position and alignment were clear to everyone 🙂. We came late to Silversea and possibly don't have the same frame of reference that you do with your long history with SS. I used to carry A LOT of video gear, but it just got to be too much ( tomsmultiinterest.com/more-interests )! I sold it all and now just use my iPhone and a gimbal. So, you likely didn't notice me, as I was in stealth mode! 😀 I looked for your video but could not find it. Is it posted under a different channel than @howardhdavidson? Thanks for watching and for the comments! Best Regards, Tom
We’re thinking of taking a Viking Cruise, but we’re a bit nervous…does everyone avoid talking politics? We’re very open minded and just want to be left alone (the comment above about graffiti is scaring me).
The comment about graffiti was in response to a comment I made in my VLOG. There is nothing that can be considered or construed as political in my comments or those of the responding comments that I am aware of. It is personal opinion only. No one approached us either on board, or on the streets, and attempted to get into a political discourse or any nature so I think you should be fine :-) Just be culturally aware
Thank you! Hope you found something useful or entertaining :-) I know you will enjoy the Nova. Beautiful ship with a wonderful crew! Write to us and let us know how the trip went! Stay tuned for new content. I am currently editing our recent holiday cruise around South America aboard the Regent Splendor, I should start posting in about three weeks. Happy and Safe Travels! Tom
My pleasure! I hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for Part 5 about my overall impressions on the new Silver Nova, and the pros and cons of this voyage. Happy Travels! T
Thank you for the comment! Yes, I should had pre-planned a bit better or been more patient! Now I know and next time there will be a castle visit in the cards😁 T
Hi, we've really enjoyed watching your videos from your recent cruise. Very informative and love your good humour! We'll certainly have a look at your previous videos. We're hoping to go on the Silver Nova in 2025 so this has been really useful. Many thanks, Chris and Sharon
Thank you for your kind words and comments! I’m sure that Silversea will have the few small kinks we found ironed out for your 2025 voyage. We were on the fourth voyage of the Nova and a few issues were to be expected :-) Overall the Silver Nova is a beautiful ship with a very warm and engaging crew. Even with the elevated up charges for La Dame, Kaiseki, and now the new Chef’s Table, there is plenty of variety and wonderful dining available in the included venues if you decide to give them a miss. I’m working on Part Five, the Silversea experience, and the pros and cons of the ship and this cruise but it may be a month or so be for that is available as we are once more traveling this time in South America aboard the Regent Seven Seas Splendor. Please, if so inclined, to like and subscribe. Safe and Happy Travels! Tom
Thank you for your comment! Yes, I am a bit disappointed in the decision Silversea made to render the huge increase (double that of the other Silversea ships) of the two up-charge restaurants, Kaiseki and La Dame. However, having traveled on Viking I must say that the level of inclusivity on Silversea is sill better than Viking. The remaining SIX dining venues, and the in-suite dining options, on the Silver Nova offer a dining experience far superior to what we experienced on our last Viking trip. Silversea also offers an open bar, in suite bar/fridge, and Butler service for every suite. No extra charges for a wide range of fine wines and liquors and no “beverages package” to contend with. The suites themselves are more spacious and appointed on Silversea than Viking. There is, a larger offering of included, and of better quality excursions than the Viking included excursions . Gratuities are included on Silversea. In short, while I agree that Viking has a good range of inclusions, I believe the Silversea offerings are better. Yes, Silversea is more costly, at least on the surface, than Viking I believe that the Silversea claim of an ultra-luxury cruise experience is justified. Other than the now three up-charge dining venues there is no evidence of the “nickel and dime-ing” you speak of. Happy and Safe Travels! Tom
Hello Jennifer, Thanks for watching and the comment. I’m not really sure why I don’t use her name, always referring to her as she/her. I will have to re-listen to some of my more recent videos to see if I have self corrected😎 I think I have sub-consciously avoided too much usage of names, especially our own as I was trying to craft (or pass off :-) the videos as legitimate VLOG’s as opposed to a personal home video type of thing. Well that’s my story and I’m sticking with it. Best Regards, Tom
The butler service wasn’t the best because you were in the basic suite..sorry about the experience, with what a cruise like this costs..there’s no excuse. The door to door experience seems like a very expensive offering. Loved the video and the whole series was very well done.
Thank you for the kind words and comment! You are right, the fact we were in the lowest cost suite shouldn’t have anything to do with the level of service provided. But having said that it very well could have:-) She was very disconnected and distant, never interacting with us. Because we were returning customers, and had in fact referred two other couples we were supposed to receive the laundry service complementary and the daily canapé service, and it was so stated on our TV/account. But when asked about the laundry service, our butler flatly told us that it was only a pay as you go option for us. I confirmed what I saw on the TV and knew to be true and started leaving the laundry out for service and was never charged for it. As far as the canapés she never mentioned it and never delivered it. We said nothing because it was not important to us as we rather enjoyed the various venues and the service provided throughout the ship. There were other issues and lapses by our butler but no matter. We recently used the door-to-door option again on our most recent trip and loved the seamless, no problem experience provided. Thank you so much for watching! Stay tuned for our upcoming vlog on the new Silver Nova! Happy travels! T P.S. - Our butler on the Silver Nova was much more helpful, engaging, and interactive… thanks Vikas!
Well done video. Sorry to hear about the Butler. It shouldn’t be that way. Looking forward to your next set of videos to see how things turn out. The food looks absolutely delicious. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words. Overall the trip was fantastic and the downers were minor. I figured that the butler thing was the exception to the norm. I’m currently editing our most recent trip, Lisbon, Spain, Gibraltar, France, aboard the new Silver Nova. I should start posting in about a week, give or take :-) Stay tuned!
Happy this showed up on my feed. We get to watch all five parts. Looking at booking a Silver Seas cruise .Very good videography and commentary. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind comments! And, thank you for hanging in there for the whole series! We just returned from another Silversea trip aboard the new Silver Nova and I am currently working on the final edit. Stay tuned for more! Happy travels! T
We signed up for the exact trip in Sep 2024 and also 2-night pre-cruise stay at Nobu in Barcelona. Do you recommend we follow the venues in this video? Anything we should avoid? Thanks in advance.
Hello Desmond! Most of the excursions we chose were good. We tend to sign up for the excursions that feature beautiful sights and/or architecture, and involve a good amount of walking. With Viking I would not do anything with “Panoramic” in the title (that seems to be “Viking-speak” for riding around in a bus). We also look very closely at the “included” excursions as they can be very light on the activity side. After all is said and done, the excursions are very personal and your idea of fun/exciting/interesting might vary considerably from ours😜. We did find the Pompei, Rome Colosseum, and Pisa trips well worth the extra money. The four day Tuscan extension at the end of the cruise was stellar! Thank you for your question and comment! Happy and safe travels! T
Your narration and the music that you chose are both very good, which made for a pleasant experience watching your informative video. Thanks. And, yes, of course I subscribed!
Thank you for the kind words Leo! And a BIG THANK YOU for subscribing! Stay tuned as I have new content from our recent trip aboard the brand new Silversea Silver Nova being edited now! Happy travels!
Hi. Wanted to clarify can you use a steam room in the men’s bathroom for no charge? You mentioned that you would have to pay for spa services to use the small pool and steam room. Is this separate spa steam room that you are referring to?
The small pool can be used if not busy. There is a larger co-Ed steam room/thermal suite that must be scheduled through the spa and I believe it is available only to those using spa services.
Going on this ship in February 2024 and loved watching her visit our home town of Greenock , great set of videos and looking forward to the food episode !
Hello Fiona! Thank you for the kind words, I’m so happy you enjoyed the video! Part five is coming soon and should be published sometime late next week. The Silver Moon is an absolutely beautiful ship with a wonderful crew and I’m sure you will enjoy it! Please drop us a note on what what you think of the ship and the Silversea experience! Thanks for watching! Happy and Safe Travels… T’s Cruise and Travel Muse, Tom
Beautiful. I wish to be able to be in all those places one day. XinYing gave her bed away to my baby and I at the Nap Zone@Incheon airport and introduced your channel to us. You guys are beautiful couple! danke schön
Hello Wanda, On the Viking Website it is called Paris to the Swiss Alps. We took the opposite itinerary…. The Swiss Alps to Paris withe the Geneva to Zermat to pre-cruise extension :-) Great itinerary! T
Hello Wanda! Yes we could have stayed and caught any of the several shuttles back until late that evening as the ship was in port overnight. Thank you for watching! T
Thank you for the kind words Val! And, thank you for subscribing! The General and I are doing fine and just returned from a cruise from Southampton, UK to Iceland. New videos on the way! Hope all is well with you and yours! Thanks for watching! T
Hello Helen, Please forgive the delay in reply. We just returned from a trip, and the internet was not good :-) I hope you found the music and video to your liking! I will have new videos to post in about three weeks. Check it out! Best Regards, Safe and Happy Travels, T
